Steve Swinney

Birds and wildlife dialogue from my Thames Estuary patch (East Tilbury/Mucking) and sometimes beyond!

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Digiscoped VTgrabs of Arctic Skua observed over the Thames at Canvey Point yesterday #LumixG7 #Swarovski #STS85 @EssexBirdNews

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Photo's and VTgrabs of Great Skua observed over the Thames at Canvey Point yesterday @EssexBirdNews

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Challenged and encouraged to see and hear those sharing at #CharlieKirkMemorial ice to see familiar faces among them too. God is far from finished with the great people of the USA.

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

I'd suggest it was the bird that 'suffered' the plane strike ... After all birds were in the air long before mankind. Pleased and relieved the plane and pilots landed safely ... I doubt that was the case for the body! #LANGUAGE

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

After bashing our E Tilbury marshes for 9 hours /10+ miles clocking 84 species yday. #bcbw25 Day 3 starts hearing traffic and tube trains over Chiffchaff n Blackcap and 2 Egyptian Geese flying over a London bus. At #WalthamstowWetlands for 3 hrs between @HTBChurch services.

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

So good to find a pair of Woodlark on one of my boyhood birding N.Lincs patches.

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Lincs/S.Yorks bird news : 2 Com Crane flew North parallel to Idle Bank Road at West Carr houses @rbabox @BirdDoncaster @BirdGuides

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Totalled 388 bird species seen globally in 2024. 211 USA (153 TX, 133 FL, 60 SC). 204 UK (England only) mainly Lincs 125; Essex 175, of which 146 were local East Tilbury patch - mainly walked from home. N Waterthrush, LGShrike were new UK Lifers.

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Found a golden nugget 11:20 yesterday when this Bewick's Swan flew a high 180 arc over East Tilbury eventually leaving overhead SW over the Thames. #PatchLifer @EssexBirdNews Left P3-4 damage may help ID elsewhere @_BTO Possibly 1 of 8 roosting Cliffe on 13/12

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

@HarriermanPhil @merseabirder @LincsWildlife @_BTO @RSPBScience Glad to be able to help and convey the good news that she appears to be doing well.

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

This 1cy? Marsh Harrier  (Wingtagged Orange 30) appears to be part of a monitoring program.  Observed yesterday 22/11 @lincswildlife Messingham Sands and feeding on the carcase of a duck left on the ice:  Any one know any info/data? @_BTO @RSPBScience

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

.... also taking turns with a Buzzard - a species I would have never seen, (nor imagined to do so here) in my younger birding years #thrivers

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Furthering @Lincsbirding Messingham Memories ... I saw my 1st ever Marsh Harrier nearby too, when a pair bred @Blacktoft_Sands 40+ yrs ago.  Great to see 3 (at least) yesterday @LincsWildlife Messingham Sands benefitting from a duck carcase on the ice ...

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Encouraging to know that Bitterns (except this one) aren't leaving the scene like too many species have in our lifetimes. #Survivor

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Showed my 85 yr old dad-in-law his 1st Bittern yday. Only my 2nd sighting here @LincsWildlife Messingham Sands LNR. Saw my 1st ever here too, 40+ yrs ago, aged 13, on a similar icy day, flushed from this same pool. #memories @Lincsbirding

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

@NBNTrust @BRNature1 @opticronuk @WmCollinsBooks Congratulations Ben. Well done mate.

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

... Taking turns with a Buzzard - a species I would have never seen, (nor imagined I'd see here) in my younger birding years #thrivers ...

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Showed my 85 yr old dad-in-law his 1st Bittern yday. Only my 2nd sighting here @LincsWildlife Messingham Sands. Saw my 1st ever here too, 40+ yrs ago, aged 13, on a similar icy day, flushed from this same pool. #memories @Lincsbirding

[Steve Swinney @LinfordBirder]

Saw my 1st ever Marsh Harrier nearby too, when a pair bred @Blacktoft_Sands 40+ yrs ago. Great to see at least 3 yesterday at Messingham ...